The judicial system's policy on plea deals was cited many times
during the Raj trial. Raj's lawyers suggested that it was
controversial, and that it incentivized Kumar and Goel to testify
against him, and perhaps worse.

Although Judge Holwell didn't cite it a reason for giving Raj a
much lighter sentence than was recommended by the prosecution (24
years), Raj's lawyers referred to Raj's decision to not take a
plea deal many times while defending him to the jury, and it also
provided a convincing argument for a light sentence when the time
came. The
lawyers explained Raj's decision to not take a plea deal like
this >